Massachusetts minimum wage increase highest in U.S.

Massachusetts – Massachusetts is set to raise the state minimum wage to $11, an amount higher than any other state in the U.S. As reported by Reuters, legislation raising the minimum wage was signed into law by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick Thursday.

As noted in the report, the move follows efforts being initiated by Democrats across the country to raise the wage minimums everywhere as midterm congressional elections in November steadily approach.

Patrick is quoted as saying in a statement while announcing the signing, “Raising the minimum wage brings a little relief to the working poor, many of whom do jobs we could not live without and who recycle money right back into the economy.”

The wage will increase from $8 to $11 in stages, and will have taken full effect by 2017.